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OAU Students’ Union Officials In Bloody Fight Over N3.8 Million

The Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union Vice President, Jacob
Tosin, popularly called Emerald, and the Director of Socials, Adedayo
Afolabi, also known as Lamba, engaged in fisticuff on Tuesday, at an
executive meeting that held at the office of the President of the Union,
Oyekan Ibukun.

Obafemi Awolowo University

Investigation revealed that the fight is connected to the N3.8
million Students’ Union backlog of funds released by the university
management on August 31.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the students council had resolved to embark
on some projects with the funds which include; refurbishment of union
library, construction of SUB (student union building) relaxation centre,
and construction of a staircase around Alumni-Archi axis.

Emerald had expressed displeasure over the decision.

The Welfare Director of the Union, Ajiboye Adekanmi, who spoke with
our reporter, said the executive ignored her proposal on how the funds
should be deployed.

“The Vice President was not pleased with the decision because we
denied her the funds for ‘fresher’s package.’ We told her to wait for
the disbursement of of 2016/17 session, but she left.”

“While she proceeded to the door to exit the meeting, Lamba (Mr.
Afolabi) engaged her but she raised alarm of harassment. Emerald
attacked Lamba first before he retaliated. Later, she opened the fridge
of the president but could not find any bottle except a malt bottle on
the shelf which she broke to attack Lamba. When both parties engaged in
another round of physical combat, Lamba headbutted the Vice President,
Emerald. They both sustained injuries and were taken to the university
health centre,” Mr Adekanmi said.

The Financial Secretary of the Union, Omisakin Kehinde, also shared her version of the incident.

“We got a backlog from the management and we all discussed on what to
do with the money. Emerald raised the issue of fresher’s package which
was discarded since she already has N1.4 million in her proposed budget.
She got vexed. While trying to leave, Lamba blocked her but she slapped
Lamba. Both engaged themselves physically before we could separate
them.”

“Emerald searched the fridge, later got a bottle on the shelf, broke
it and charged at Lamba while Lamba also headbutted her,” Omisakin said.

The Secretary General of the Union, Boluwajaiye Adeoluwa, while
speaking in a public group said the matter “was not a big issue.”

He said the two grown up individuals were unable to control their anger and it escalated.

However, the Public Relations Officer of union, Okediji Simon, and
the President, Mr. Ibukun, declined comments on the confrontation.

Lamba, in a telephone conversation, told our reporter that he only “prevented the VP from going out which led to the saga.”

“When we could not meet her demand, she ‘vexed’ but I held her back
jokingly. She slapped me times without number, broke a bottle and I
headbutted her which was self defence,” Lamba argued.

At the university health centre where both were rushed to, it was
learnt that Emerald had been transferred to Seventh Day Adventist
Hospital, Ile-Ife, due to the ongoing doctors’ strike.

All efforts to speak with Emerald proved abortive as she was seen
receiving a drip and had a swollen face at the time our reporter got to
the hospital.

One of her friends who spoke under the condition of anonymity said
the “VP was mercilessly rough-handled by the Director of Socials.”

The university’s Acting Chief Security Officer, O. Babatunde, said
the Vice Chancellor of the institution had ordered the security unit to
investigate the incident and file a comprehensive report to his office.

“The Vice Chancellor is already aware of the matter, he has placed (a
call) to me that we should investigate and file a comprehensive report
before today the end of Today. Fighting is becoming too rampant and we
are getting irritated with the officers’ behaviour.”

He added that the management does not want to regret its decision to reinstate the students’ union.

The union was only reinstated recently after a period of ban placed on it.

A member of the Sudents’ Union Parliament, Ayuba Quadri, described the incident as “embarrassing.”

”It’s quite sad and embarrassing that, it isn’t only some ‘ridiculous
adults’ that have brought the country into the present degeneracy, but
it suffices also to acknowledge the retrogressive roles played by youths
in this downfall we as a nation are in today,” he said.

OAU Students’ Union Officials In Bloody Fight Over N3.8 Million
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September 06, 2017
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